Did House Speaker John Boehner hint ever so slightly at a compromise today that could finally edge us away from the dreaded fiscal cliff? A huge point in contention between President Barack Obama and Boehner are the tax rates.

Obama says the top rate on household income above $250, 000 should rise from 35% to 39.6%. Boehner wants the rate to stay at 35% or even lower.

The question is, what about the middle - at 37%?

"There are a lot for things that are possible to put the revenue that the president seeks on the table, but none of it's going to be possible if the president insists on his position, insists on 'my way or the highway,'" Boehner said.

Is 37 the magic number in this fiscal cliff debate?

OutFront tonight: Doug Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum and Robert Reich, Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and Fmr. U.S. Labor Secretary under President Bill Clinton.

soundoff(One Response)

Arik Fetscher

When I pay property taxes, they often issue a discount if they are paid early. Why wouldnt some of the same type thinking be useful in the discussions over medicare and social security? To reduce the amount of taxes paid on social security for those who agree to take it at 67 instead of 65 or increase the payment amount. I am sure many who could wait the extra 2 years would then take tax advantage of the reduced taxation rate over the remainder of time while those who chose to take it at 65 would be in exactly the same position and there would be no cuts but would be savings.

Post a comment

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.